ST PETER, CLAYPOLE
St Peters, Claypole is a Grade I listed building, attaining the listing on 20 September 1966. The churchyard also houses a scheduled ancient monument, named "Churchyard Cross".
Although the church is now known as St Peter's, early church records refer to St Peter's and St Paul's and this is the likely original dedication. There was a church in the village in Saxon times, probably built from wood. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, during hte reign of William the Conqueror, had several entries for Claypole, then called Claipol. It references a church and one priest. The Lord of the Manor in 1086 was recorded as Bishop Odo of Bayeaux. This original church stood for 150 years and was then replaced by a small stone church. Over the subsequent two centuries there were three building phases.
Early 13th Century
The church comprised the first two tower stages and a small aisle - within the current pillars and as far as the steps to the chancel. Evidence of the roof line for this phase can be seen on the inside west wall of the tower. There was a seperate Lady Chapel, erected by Thomas de Sacto Laudo, South Mediety Rector (1234-1316) close by the church and this was incorporated into the new building. The three sedilia, south wall door and lancet windows, which are dated 1275 are all found in the modified building dated 50 years later.
Early 14th Century
The nave was built, adding the aisles and transepts and another level of the tower, which now houses the clock.
Late 14th Century
A larger chancel, together with a sacristy were built to replace the existing one. A spire was added to the tower. A south porch was added as well as the nave battlements. The church door is from this phase. The original roofline of the chancel is visible on the east end of the nave. The wooden screen and baptismal font date from this phase. There are 5 bells in the tower.
Medieval Graffiti
There are over 300 marks in St Peter's, some of which have been there for over four centuries. It is not clear what many of the marks might mean, although some appear multiple times within the church. At St Peter's, the marks include masons marks, circles, letters, dates, faces, crosses and even a medieval game.
Incumbents
Prior to the 18th Century, the parish comprised two Medieties and there were two priests. The South Rector lived in the home adjacent to the church and the North Rector lived in Rectory Lane.
Today, St Peter's is one of a group of five parishes in the Claypole Benefice, part of the Loveden Deanery, within the Diocese of Lincoln.
****************** ********************
For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
****************** *******************